How Is My Fifth Grader Doing in School?: What to Expect and How to Help - Softcover

How do you support a fifth grader in school? By helping them get organized and develop early study skills, by taking advantages of teachable moments at home, and by developing a positive relationship with your child's teacher. Educator and author Jennifer Richard Johnson's How Is My Fifth Grader Doing in School? is chock full of ideas for accomplishing all these feats, while still maintaining a relaxed and playful home atmosphere (probably the best support you can offer a typically frazzled fifth grader). Every book in this series emphasizes the importance of parents offering spontaneous interactions that increase basic academic skills within the context of daily life. For example, Jacobson devotes numerous chapters to discussing the fundamental skills expected of fifth graders, and then presents a slew of manageable ideas for enhancing these skills through casual discussions, engaging games, or a simple drive to the grocery store. She offers solid developmental information about the social, physical, and emotional needs of children in any particular grade. Fifth graders want to be independent but are notoriously disorganized. They are especially interested in families, love to run around outside, hate to do homework or take baths, and are just starting to worry about looking cool. This kind of developmental overview offers heaps of reassurance to fretful parents. Each book in the series comes with a small assessment booklet designed to help parents evaluate children's skills in a low-stress environment. --Gail Hudson

Jennifer Richard Jacobson received her BS in Education in 1980 from Lesley College and her master's in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has taught preschool through sixth grade and has served in a variety of administrative positions in several New England schools. She has written over twenty books for classroom use. She lives in Maine with her husband and two children.